Defense must pass stiff test

A relaxed Rex Grossman stood at the podium Wednesday and expressed hope of giving his team a boost. The Bears will need more than Grossman's arm to bail them out Sunday in Seattle.

Of course, all eyes will be on the highly scrutinized quarterback as he starts for the first time since Week 3. Yet the Bears' hopes of improving to a respectable 5-5 depend heavily on how the defense performs.

Coach Lovie Smith praised the defensive effort against the Raiders last week, but Sunday's opponent poses a more difficult challenge.

With star running back Shaun Alexander banged up and possibly out of the lineup, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is bound to constantly test the Bears' secondary through the air. He leads the NFL's eighth-best passing attack (246.4 yards per game) and is one the better quarterbacks in the league in terms of fourth-quarter production.

The Bears, in turn, can't afford a slow offensive start at noisy Qwest Field, meaning Grossman has to show up. Good Rex, that is.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Terry Bannon

Rex Grossman gets a chance to breathe new life into the Bears' offense after his heroics against the Raiders last week. Will the passing game open up the running game, or can anything help Cedric Benson get going? If the Bears are going to make a run at a wild-card berth, they need this upset in a difficult environment.

SEAHAWKS 21 BEARS 17

Mike Downey

You Know Who is the quarterback again. Bernard Berrian Go Long is his favorite play. So maybe the Bears can rain touchdown passes on Seattle. And maybe Hunter Hillenmeyer, who led the Bears in tackles last week, and his friends can contain Matt Hasselbeck. Maybe. On the other hand, Kyle Orton, keep loose.

SEAHAWKS 31 BEARS 17

David Haugh

After a dreary Sunday in Seattle, maybe Bears fans will wake up and smell the coffee: The problems on offense go much deeper than the quarterback. Expect Rex Grossman to play better in one of the NFL's toughest venues. But it will rain blitzes and the lack of protection and a running game ultimately will do in the Bears. The boost Grossman will give the passing game doesn't make Cedric Benson any faster or the offensive line any younger.

SEAHAWKS 23 BEARS 21

Melissa Isaacson

The Bears are hardly the only desperate team in the NFL. Seattle has plenty to prove and looked impressive on Monday night. Will a couple of decent passes and a positive history versus the Seahawks be enough to boost the confidence of Rex Grossman and lead the Bears to their longest winning streak of the season? Not quite. SEAHAWKS 24 BEARS 14

Vaughn McClure

The Bears will win if they can limit the Seahawks' passing attack. Rookie cornerback Trumaine McBride will be on the spot more than he has been all season. Don't worry about Rex. Sitting the bench did him some good.

BEARS 24 SEAHAWKS 21

Fred Mitchell

Matt Hasselbeck and his receiving corps that includes former Bear Bobby Engram seem to have found their rhythm and timing. The challenge for the Bears' defense will be to finally force some costly turnovers and then convert them into points. A second straight win for the Bears would be a first for this season--a daunting challenge in a reverberating Qwest Field.

SEAHAWKS 24 BEARS 16

Rick Morrissey

The Seahawks might be 5-4 this season, but they're 4-1 at home. The scouting report on Rex Grossman is that he gets jittery under pressure, and there will be a lot of it in noisy Qwest Field. Without a running game to lean on, he and the Bears are in trouble.

SEAHAWKS 21 BEARS 7

John Mullin

The return of Rex Grossman will raise the energy level of the offense, but Seattle plays strong at home behind the wall of noise from their 12th man. Too often the Bears have been emotionally unprepared. With a chance at .500 and a return to the playoff discussion, they will be ready this time. Seattle is just a field goal better.

SEAHAWKS 23 BEARS 20

Dan Pompei

The Bears' offense becomes less predictable with Rex Grossman at quarterback, so anything is possible in this game. But the Seahawks have been a more consistent team than the Bears.